PEOPLE Deaths MARY H. ALDRIDGE, 75, professor emerita of chemistry at American Univer sity, Washington, D.C., died July 13,1994, after a long illness. Aldridge received a B.S. degree in chemistry from the Univer sity of Georgia in 1939 and an M.A. de gree from Duke University in 1941. Dur ing World War II, she worked for DuPont, continuing there until 1947. She then moved to teaching, joining the facul ty of the University of Maryland, College Park. She received a Ph.D. degree in bio chemistry from Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., in 1954. Aldridge joined American University's faculty in 1955 as its second full-time fac ulty member after serving eight years at Maryland. In her 30 years at American University, she directed about 100 mas ters theses and doctoral dissertations. Other professional activities included serving as president, secretary, and coun cilor for the Chemical Society of Washing ton (the ACS Washington, D.C, Section). In addition, she had 15 years of service on the section's board of managers. At the na tional level, she served on the ACS Board of Trustees for Insurance Affairs and on the Committee on Public Affairs as well as being chairman of the National Committee for Women's Activities—now the Women Chemists Committee. Aldridge also served the Washington Academy of Sciences as president, secretary, and treasurer. For 20 years, she was a member of the Board of Governors of the Washington Chromatog raphy Group. As president of the National Foundation for Cancer Research and chair man of its board of directors, she was in strumental in leading the organization to provide support for basic research in the understanding of cancer. Joined ACS in 1942; emerita member. THEODORE L. CAIRNS, 88, a retired DuPont research executive known as "the father of cyanocarbon chemistry," died Sept. 26, 1994. A native of Edmon ton, Alberta, Cairns received a B.S. de gree from the University of Alberta in 1936 and a Ph.D. degree from the Univer sity of Illinois in 1939. He was an instructor in organic chem istry at the University of Rochester, N.Y., from 1939 to 1941. Cairns joined DuPont as a research chemist in 1941 and became well known for work in the fields of polyamide, acetylene, and cyanocarbon chemistry. In 1945, he became a research supervisor and was advanced to labora tory director in 1952. In 1963, he became director of basic sciences and in 1967 was appointed assistant director of the central research department. He became director of that department in 1971 and retired in 1979. 32 FEBRUARY 6,1995 C&EN
Cairns was described by a colleague as "one of those rare individuals who has ex celled in scientific research and in adminis trative office and also has contributed im portantly to national science policy." Cairns served as chairman of the ACS Division of Organic Chemistry and was a member of the society's Committee on Chemistry & Public Affairs. He was elect ed to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) in 1966 and was a member of the Ν AS Committee for the Survey of Chem istry (the Westheimer Committee) that completed a definitive survey of the condi tion of basic research in chemistry in the U.S. and its most critical needs and oppor tunities for progress. In 1969, he was ap pointed by President Richard Nixon to the newly formed Task Force on Science Poli cy. In the late 1970s, he served as chairman of the Division of Chemistry & Chemical Technology in the National Research Council. Among his numerous awards were the ACS Award for Creative Work in Syn thetic Organic Chemistry and the Syn thetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association Medal for Creative Research in Synthetic Organic Chemistry (both in 1968). In 1970, the University of Alberta awarded him an honorary doctorate of laws degree, and in 1973, he was award ed the Perkin Medal by the Society of Chemical Industry. The Franklin Insti tute awarded Cairns the Cresson Medal in 1974. Joined ACS in 1939; emeritus member. HAIBIN DENG, 32, assistant professor in the department of chemistry at the University of Kentucky, died of a heart attack Dec. 29, 1994. Deng was born in China and received a B.S. degree from Fudan University, Shanghai, in 1985, and a Ph.D. degree in inorganic chemistry from Ohio State University in 1991 work ing with Sheldon G. Shore on mixedmetal complexes. He was awarded a Sino-American Chemistry Graduate Pro gram Fellowship in 1986 and a BP America Industrial Fellowship in 1990. Deng won the Albert L. Henne Graduate Research Competition in 1990. After a short postdoctoral appointment with Shore, he carried out postdoctoral work at Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., initial ly on theoretical chemistry with Roald Hoffmann and subsequently on solidstate inorganic chemistry with Frank J. DiSalvo. Deng was a bright and promis ing inorganic chemist who had published more than 15 papers in scientific journals. He joined the University of Kentucky last August. According to a colleague, in that short time, he had established himself as a fine researcher; an excellent, conscien tious teacher; and a warm, personable colleague. Joined ACS in 1988.
JOHN DAVID HEM, 78, a senior research chemist with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), died Dec. 27,1994, of complications from leukemia. At the time of his death, Hem was chief of the USGS project on the chemistry of metals in natural waters in the survey's lab in Menlo Park, Calif. Begin ning his career in 1939 as a part-time bottlewasher in the laboratory at USGS head quarters in Washington, D.C, Hem served in a variety of positions and programs dur ing his career. Upon graduation from George Washington University in 1940, he became a chemist in the groundwater branch lab at Safford, Ariz., and then ad vanced through several positions in the Arizona and New Mexico district offices to become chief district chemist in Albuquer que, N.M., in 1948. In 1953, he joined the new water resources program in Denver to begin his systematic research on the geo chemistry of iron and manganese. Hem transferred to Menlo Park in 1963, where he carried out most of his field and laboratory experiments in aqueous geo chemistry, making pioneering contribu tions with major implications for water pollution and treatment and h u m a n health. Hem authored more than 150 sci entific journal articles, book chapters, and USGS reports, including "Study and Inter pretation of the Chemical Characteristics of Natural Water," a report that has been translated into many languages. Hem was an active member of numerous professional societies. He served on several National Academy of Sciences advisory panels. His contributions were recognized with numerous awards, including the Geo logical Society of America O. E. Meinzer Award (1990), the National Water Well As sociation Science Award (1986), and the In ternational Association of Geochemistry & Cosmochemistry Special Award (1992). Joined ACS in 1941; emeritus member. RAYMOND W. JAMES, 85, a retired chemical engineer, died Nov. 28, 1994. James received a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering in 1932 from North eastern University, Boston. He was chief chemist with Bemis Associates, Watertown, Mass., from 1932 to 1937 and was a group leader at Arthur D. Little in Cam bridge, Mass., from 1937 to 1960. In 1960, he moved to Fitchburg, Mass., and worked as director of research and group director of re search of Fitchburg Paper Co. until retiring in 1971. James was author or coauthor of 40 US. and foreign patents. He was a member of the American Chemical Society and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. Joined ACS in 1938; emeritus member. JAMES R. JOHNSTONE, 85, a longtime employee and former vice chairman of Union Carbide, died July 23, 1994. John stone received a bachelor's degree in elec-
trical engineering from the University of Il and inorganic fibers. His research result linois. He joined Carbide in 1937 and re ed in significant publications and patents. tired in 1974 after 37 years with the Koutsky was also a dedicated educator company. For much of his career, John who taught courses on the structure and stone was associated with its carbon prod properties of materials, polymer science, ucts divisions in Minneapolis, Salt Lake and adhesion science. He was the faculty City, and San Francisco. He was named adviser for the student chapter of AIChE. president of the division in 1953, vice pres Joined ACS in 1989. ident of the parent company in 1966, and vice chairman in 1971. ANTHONY JAMES SMITH III, 76, a re tired Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) re JAMES A. KOUTSKY, 54, professor of searcher, died Oct. 15, 1994, of Lou Geh chemical engineering at the University of rig's disease. Smith was a native of Kansas Wisconsin, Madison, died Nov. 25, 1994. City and graduated with a bachelor's de Koutsky received B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. gree from the University of Missouri in degrees in chemical engineering and 1942. During World War II, he was an in polymer science from Case Western Re structor in mathematics and electronics for serve University, Cleveland. He joined the Navy in Chicago and Great Lakes, 111. the University of Wisconsin in 1966. From 1942 until his retirement in 1982, he Koutsky was an active member of the was employed as a research chemist for American Institute of Chemical Engineers TVA at the National Fertilizer Develop (AIChE), the American Chemical Society, ment Center. His work included research the Adhesion Society, and the Materials in physical and electrochemistry, and Research Society. His early research inter among his later projects for TVA was the ests were in nucleation and the applica study of hydroelectric power generation in tion of microscopy to polymer crystalliza a number of European countries. He held tion. His recent research interests include numerous patents and served as chairman the development and recycling of plas of the ACS Wilson Dam Section. Joined Π tics, plastic-wood composites, adhesives, ACS in 1946; emeritus member.
MEETINGS Abstracts for Pan American Chemical Congress The 3rd Pan American Chemical Con gress will be held Sept. 10-15 at the Caribe Hilton Hotel in San Juan, P.R. The meeting is being organized in collabora tion with the ACS Chemical Education and Environmental Chemistry Divisions. Papers will be accepted in all areas of
Correction • Jan. 23, page 73: The conference hotel for the 2nd North American Re search Conference on Stabilization & Degradation of Polymers (March 1315, Hilton Head, S.C.) is the Westin Resort Hotel, not the Hilton Head Is land Beach & Tennis Resort. To make reservations with the Westin, call (803) 681-4800. • Jan. 30, page 67: The phone num ber for the ACS Department of Career Services was listed incorrectly. The correct number is (800) 227-5558 and press 9, 3,1. • Jan. 30, page 55: The phone num ber for USAir was listed incorrectly. The correct number is (800) 334-8644.
chemistry. To date, symposia being or ganized are "Analytical and Molecular Biological Techniques in Environmental Toxicology/' "Bioremediation," and "Clean Water: Regulations and Analy sis." Plenary speakers who have con firmed their participation are Elias J. Corey, Ernest Eliel, Jerrold Meinwald, John C. Polanyi, Janos Fendler, and Ronald C. Breslow. For more information or to submit an abstract, contact the Puerto Rico Chemists Association, P.O. Box 195116, San Juan, P.R. 00919-5116; phone (809) 763-6070, fax (809) 758-2615. Q
Graduate symposium honoring Doering Between 1982 and 1986, 240 chemistry students in China came to U.S. graduate schools as part of the Chemistry Gradu ate Program (CGP). This program was organized by William von Eggers Doer ing of Harvard University in coopera
tion with the Chinese government. To honor Doering's contribution, CGP graduates have organized a symposium to be held April 1 at California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, just before the ACS national meeting in Anaheim. A highlight of the symposium will be a historical overview by Doering. All are invited to participate in this event. For more information and registra tion information, contact Jiali Gao, Depart ment of Chemistry, State University of New York, Buffalo, N.Y. 14260; e-mail:
[email protected]; phone (716) 645-6800, ext. 2102, fax (716) 645-6963. Π
Summer program in solid-state chemistry The National Science Foundation is again sponsoring a summer research program in solid-state chemistry for undergradu ate students and college faculty. The program will begin with tutorial ses sions at the State University of New York, Binghamton. These sessions will be interspersed with trips to local industrial laboratories where significant solid-state research is under way. Each participant will then travel to a university or indus trial lab to take part in a nine-week re search program under the direction of a recognized authority in the area. A variety of different research projects at locations around the U.S. will be available for the second part of the pro gram, and those who are accepted will be asked to indicate preferences. Partici pating faculty members will have the choice of either laboratory research or a university program directed toward d e veloping lecture materials on solid-state chemistry suitable for undergraduates. In some locales, participants may be able to rent university dormitory space and use meal services. All programs will run from June 4 to Aug. 7. Undergraduate stipends will be $2,750; faculty stipends will be $5,000. In addition, the program will pay all transportation expenses incurred by participants. Applicants will be required to submit two letters of recommendation and an of ficial transcript by March 15. Early appli cants have the most lab choices. For infor mation, contact Elaine Schmitz or Stan Wittingham, Chemistry Department, Bing hamton University, Binghamton, N.Y. 13902-6000; phone (607) 777-4623. Π FEBRUARY 6,1995 C&EN
33
